Last NT Assignment!

Jude chapter one tells us that if we contend for the faith and be diligent we can multiply mercy, peace, and love. You can “contend for the faith” by remembering the things that you have been taught by the brethren.

Jude 1:6 talks about the “first estate”. This refers to the choice we made in the preexistence to side with the Lord and come to earth to gain a body.

This institute manual said that Michael and Satan fought over who would bury the body of Moses. Michael was charged with the duty, but Satan wanted the body because he said Moses was a sinner which meant that he was the ”lord” over the sinners. This is being quoted by Jude from a piece of scripture that has been omitted from the Bible.

The Savior will return to the earth in power and glory in the Second Coming with “ten thousands” of his saints.

In order to avoid the evils of false teachers we need to be in tune with the spirit. Our prophets and apostles have given us guidance that will steer us clear of preachers of false doctrine. We can avoid the evils that would try to deceive us by knowing the true doctrine for ourselves so that we cannot be deceived.   

More From 2 Peter

Peter tells how to recognize false teachers in 2 Peter chapter 2, so here is a list of things that Peter cautions us to look for:

·         They will “bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord” (v 1).

·         They will lie to you in order to “make merchandise of you” (v 3).

·         They are not afraid to speak evil (v 10).

·         They speak “great swelling words of vanity” (18).

·         They appeal to the lusts of men (18).

This list helps us to identify false teachers today as well. The false teachers that were described in this chapter exemplify people who just want to be praised by men. They want to preach things that will keep them popular with their congregations.

                In 2 Peter 2:20 Peter refers to returning to the “pollutions of the world”. This dangers of this is hatred, living in sin, and even brothers overcoming brothers in war. If we let ourselves engage in the things of the world then we will end up being without the light of Christ and tearing each other down.

The General Epistle of James

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him”. This encourages us to come unto Christ. He will help us get those things that we ask for in faith and righteousness. James goes on in verse 6 to explain, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” When we ask things of the Lord we must ask with a sure faith that he will help to guide us whenever and however he sees fit.

James 1:8 says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” This verse is kind of confusing at first glance, but with the help of Matthew 6:24 and 1 Kings 18:21 we see that this is talking about attempting to love two masters. We can’t love good and love evil at the same time.

In our lives, we can be better disciples of Christ by not giving into temptations that would lead us to sin. We should be slow to anger, because our tongue offends when we do not guard it. “Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only” as this scripture states. We must be willing to go out and do the things we know to be right. We also need to keep others in our minds who are afflicted, and be willing to help them.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said in regards to James 1:5-6, “…this single verse of scripture has had a greater impact and a more far reaching effect upon mankind than any other single sentence ever recorded by any prophet in any age. It might well be said that the crowning act of the ministry of James was not his martyrdom for the testimony of Jesus, but his recitation, as guided by the Holy Ghost, of these simple words which led to the opening of the heavens in modern times.”

·         This passage of scripture is what prompted Joseph Smith to go to a grove of trees and ask if which church to join. This experience led to the restoration of the gospel.

Paul's Counsel

Paul ended his epistle to the Hebrews with counsel and teachings. Here are some questions that can be answered in chapter 13 of Hebrews:

·         How should we treat strangers and those in bonds?  Verses 1 and 2 talk about this by saying that we should “entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”. We need to help those who are in need whether they are friends or strangers, because we never know who the Lord has put in our path. We are to remember those that are in bonds that suffer because we need to treat them as if we were in that same situation.

·         How is marriage looked upon?  “Marriage is honourable”. God is pleased with those who get married and do not defile themselves.

·         What warnings are given about covetousness? We are supposed to “be content with such things as ye have”. We should not want for other people’s possessions, because we have our own.

·         What is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever”? Jesus Christ. He does not change his convictions nor go back on his promises. He is always there to help us when we go to him in faith.

·         How are we sanctified? We are sanctified through the blood of Christ, by his infinite atonement.

·         How do we respond to those who rule over us? We are supposed to obey the people that rule over us and submit ourselves to them.

·         Who did Paul ask the people to pray for? He asked them to pray for him and his fellow men in Christ.

R Mountain!

Last week, Hunter and I hiked R Mountain with our friends the Kings! Some advice...do not eat Taco Bell before you go. Bad idea! We made our own trail on the way up and when we got near the top we found out that you weren't supposed to go that way...Oops! No wonder it was hard! It was worth the pain when we got to the top though.

2 Timothy

1. 2 Timothy 1/Moroni 8-9

• Both Paul and Mormon share their testimonies of the Lord and share that they pray diligently for Timothy and Moroni, respectively. They both speak of the power and glory of God and how they need to be faithful.

• When Paul speaks to Timothy, he brings up the faith of his mother and his grandmother, I think he did this because he wanted Timothy to see the legacy of faith that was left in his family. I think that Paul wanted him to see that he was raised in a family where God is present. I feel like this was said to give Timothy a feeling of calmness and allow for a willingness s to be as faithful as his predecessors.

• Paul talked about the “spirit of fear” and told him that this is not something that we were given by God, but that he gave him power, love, and a sound mind. He wants Timothy to not have fear but to be faithful and to work using the tools that the Lord has given him. This counsel can help me in my own life by reminding me that as it states in Phillippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” I can attain my highest potential by doing the will of the Lord.

      2. 2 Timothy 1

• Paul loved and blessed the house of Onesiphorus because they were very hospitable toward him and they were not ashamed of him.

• Paul blessed him with mercy from the Lord because of his faith.

• In order to receive the same blessing today, I would need to be full of service or having the willingness to serve whenever an opportunity arose in order to take care of my fellowmen.

• The books of Matthew and Jacob help us to understand the “chain” that is spoken of in 2 Timothy be sharing that the chain is like a yoke or cross, which signifies the yoke of the Lord and his gospel and teachings.  

Scriptural Counsel

This week from the New Testament...

Here is a list of a couple of challenges that can arise in our lives and some counsel from Phillippians that can be used to help with these situations:

•  People sometimes argue and complain over petty matters in church meetings or throughout the week. In Phillippians 2:3 it says, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” This, to me is saying that we need to remember each other in our lives and remember to put others first and not be selfish or put ourselves above one another. Reading on down to verse 14 it says, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.” We should not complain or speak ill about anything.   

•  Many youth feel that their parents’ testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all their spiritual strength. People who feel that they do not need their own testimonies have become dependent on someone else’s, and in the end at the day of judgment we will be accountable for our own actions and our own convictions. Phillippians 2:12 says, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Each person will be responsible for the knowledge they obtain and what they do with that knowledge. It is our job to follow Moroni’s counsel and learn for ourselves if the gospel is true.

• An investigator is considering joining the church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does. Phillippians 3:8 says, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”. This scripture perfectly states how we should have that person handle the situation. Knowing that we are doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord will bring us blessings throughout our lifetime, and if we could only get them to see that the Lord will help them through the tough times even if their family won’t then that is a success.

This assignment is applicable to 2 Nephi 32:3, because we have studied what we should do in life situations by turning to the Lord and reading His scripture.

New Testament

More New Testament!

1.       Romans 13:11 says that “for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” In order to work out our salvation we need to constantly repent and come unto Christ. We also need to keep the commandments and endure to the end so that we might attain eternal life.

2.       In Romans chapters 12-13 Paul taught how we can attain salvation. Here is a list of his teachings:

·         Sanctify yourselves through sacrifice

·         Allow your mind to become spiritually reborn so it coincides with the will of God

·         Love sincerely and cling to good things

·         Be hospitable

·         Conform to be as the humble are and don’t be prideful

·         Overcome evil with good

·         Be submissive and obedient to God

·         Do not be afraid of authority

·         Do not hold debts and love one another

·         Obey the commandments

3.       In talking about judging, Paul said that we are not to judge one another because that is the Lord’s job. We are here to lift each other up and to help each other grow and not to tear down our neighbors by our judgments. People have different ways of doing things, but the servant is to be judged by his own master and so we don’t need to be concerned with the judgment of their choices. We need to treat each other as we would want to be treated. We need to treat others equally.

4.       Paul called the church members of his day “saints”.